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Security Insights

Research, tutorials, and analysis to help you become a more effective security analyst.

Latest Articles

Network traffic analysis dashboard showing TCP and UDP port connections, firewall logs, and protocol distribution for SOC triage
Tutorials

Common Ports Cheat Sheet: 42 Ports SOC Analysts Memorize

Common ports cheat sheet for SOC analysts — master the 42 TCP/UDP ports that appear in firewall logs, SIEM alerts, and security interviews every single day.

Astrid LindqvistMay 11, 202620 min read

Wax-sealed envelope beside a magnifying glass on a dark surface with a glowing phishing hook and orange code overlay in the background
Tutorials

How to Analyze a Phishing Email: SOC Walkthrough

A step-by-step SOC workflow to analyze a phishing email: safe handling, header forensics, URL and attachment triage, and a documented verdict.

Astrid LindqvistMay 5, 202613 min read

Close-up of a dark SIEM dashboard on a widescreen monitor, rows of alerts highlighted in orange, gloved hands at the keyboard
Tutorials

Alert Triage: Real Threats vs False Positives

Alert triage is the core SOC skill — learn the framework analysts use to assess severity, confirm IOCs, and separate real threats from false positives.

Astrid LindqvistApr 29, 202613 min read

Two silhouettes facing each other across a table with a large curved orange-lit world map and data dashboard screen behind them
Best Practices

SOC Analyst Interview Questions: 30 With Answers

SOC analyst interview questions decoded: what interviewers test, sample answers, and log examples to study before your first security ops interview.

Astrid LindqvistApr 23, 202619 min read

Tiered salary bands for SOC analyst roles from Tier 1 entry-level to Tier 3 senior, displayed as a compensation ladder in a security context
Best Practices

SOC Analyst Salary 2026: Tier 1 to Tier 3 ($48K to $145K)

Tier 1 SOC analysts earn $48,000 to $72,000; Tier 3 and leads reach $145,000. Honest ranges by tier, location, and cert, from BLS and aggregator data.

Astrid LindqvistApr 16, 202617 min read

3D orange glowing staircase path curving across a dark circuit-board landscape toward an illuminated SOC building on the horizon
Best Practices

How to Become a SOC Analyst (With or Without a Degree)

How to become a SOC analyst: a realistic roadmap from IT helpdesk to SOC, covering certs, hands-on practice, and what hiring managers actually screen for.

Astrid LindqvistApr 6, 202614 min read